USA > Massachusetts > The journals of each Provincial congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of safety, with an appendix, containing the proceedings of the county conventions-narratives of the events of the nineteenth of April, 1775 > Part 8
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(1) The name of Western was altered to Warren, March 13, 1834.
(2) Woodstock is erroneously inserted in the text. The inhabitants of that town, settled in 1686, long attached to Suffolk, afterwards connected with Worcester county, seceded from the jurisdic- tion of Massachusetts, in 1747 ; in 1752 they were admitted to the privileges and protection of Connec- ticut, and on the settlement of her boundary line, became, and have remained citizens of that state.
15
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
Scarborough .- Mr. Samuel March.
North Yarmouth .- Mr. John Lewis.
Gorham .- Solomon Lombard, Esq.
Brunswick and Harpswell .- Mr. Samuel Thompson.
1COUNTY OF LINCOLN .- [None.]
2COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE.
Sheffield, Great Barrington, Egremout and Alford .- John Fellows, Esq., Doct William Whiting.
Stockbridge and West Stockbridge .- Mr. Thomas Williams.
Tyringham .- Capt. Giles Jackson.
Pittsfield .- John Brown, Esq.
Richmond .- [None.]
Lenox .- Mr. John Patterson.
Becket .- Mr. Jonathan Wadsworth.
The Congress proceeded to the choice of a Chairman, when the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., was elected.
Benjamin Lincoln, Esq. was chosen clerk.
Upon a motion, Voted, That the Congress be adjourned to the |1ªcourt house in|| Concord, ||there to meet on Tuesday next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon.3||
TUESDAY, October 11, 1774, A. M.
The Congress met according to adjournment.
Upon a motion || Resolved, That the Congress be adjourned to the meeting house in Concord: Being met there, upon a motion|| the
a {[Meeting house at .!!
(1) This county, established in 1760, extended at the period of the entries in the journal over the vast territory of Maine, where the counties of Lincoln, Ilancock, Waldo, Washington, Kennebeck, Somerset and Penobseot have risen. The figures prefixed to the names of the towna oxisting in 1774, indicate the date of incorporation of cach : 1716, Georgetown; 1753, Newcastle ; 1759, Woolwich ; 1760, Pownalsborough, changed to Wiscasset, June 10, 1802 ; 1762, Bowdoinham ; 1764, Boothbay, Topsham ; 1765, Bristol ; 1771, llallowell, Winthrop, Vassalborough, Winslow ; 1773, Waldoborough, Belfast ; 1774, Edgecomb; Gardnerstown received the name of Pittston, February 4, 1773.
(2) In Berkshire were the following towns, in addition to those enumerated in the text, incorpora- ted prior to 1774, in the year annexed to each name ; Patridgefield, 1771, named Peru, June 19, 1806; New Marlborough, 1759; Lanesborough, 1765; Sandisfield, 1762; Williamstown, 1765 ; Gageboroughı, 1771, ealled Winsor, 1778; Otis, 1773.
(3) Conventions of delegates in the several counties had appointed the second Tuesday of October and the town of Concord, as the time and place for the meeting of the Congress of the province, long before writs were issued by the governor for convening tho general court. The adjournment was in conformity with the resolutions of the local assemblies.
"The meeting was first held in the old court house, but that being too small to convene so large an assembly, it was adjourned to the meeting house. Two sessions, one at nine, and the other at three o'clock, were held each day."-Shattuck's Concord, 91.
16
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Oct. 11,
question was put, whether they would reconsider their vote relative to the appointing a chairman, and then proceed to the choice of a presi- dent, by written votes, and passed in the affirmative.
Upon a motion, Ordered, That Capt. Heath, Hon. Mr. Dexter, and Hon. Col. Ward, be a committee to count and sort the votes for a president.
The Congress proceeded to bring- in their votes for a president, and the committee having counted and sorted the same, reported that the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., was chosen.
The Congress then appointed Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., secretary.
Upon a motion, Ordered, That Capt. Barrett, Doct. Warren, and Hon. Col. Ward, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, and desire his attendance on the Congress, that the business might be opened with prayer.
The committee appointed to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, report- ed that they had attended [to] that service, and that the Rev. Mr. Emer- son would soon attend on the Congress agreeable to their desire.
Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
Three o'clock, P. M .- The Congress is further adjourned to half after eight o'clock to-morrow morning.
WEDNESDAY, October 12, 1774, A. M.
||| Upon a motion, Ordered, That Major Fuller, Col. Prescot, Doct. Warren, and Doct. Holten, be appointed to return the Congress when necessary, in order the more easily to ascertain a vote, and that they observe the following divisions, viz : The wall pews on the right of the desk for one division; [those] on the left for another ; the men's seats and the pews adjoining them, a third; and the women's seats and the pews adjoining them, the fourth.
Upon a motion, the question was put whether the several resolutions entered into by the counties respectively, be now read, and passed in the affirmative. They were read accordingly.1
Resolved, That a doorkeeper be appointed.
Resolved, That Capt. Barrett be desired to appoint some suitable person for a doorkeeper ; he appointed accordingly, Mr. Jeremiah Hunt for that purpose.
Ordered, That the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Hon. Joseph Hawley, Esq., Doct. Warren, Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq., Hon. Col. Ward, Hon.
a |Congress met agreeably to adjournment.||
(1) The records of the county conventions so far as they can be recovered will be found in the Ap- pendix.
17
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
Col. Warren, Capt. Heath, Col. Lee, Doct. Church, Doct. Holten, Mr. Gerry, Col. Tyng, Capt. Roberson, Major Foster, and Mr. Gorham, be a committee to take into consideration the state of the province, and report as soon as may be.
||Then the Congress|| adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning.
THURSDAY, October 13, 1774, A. M.
||||Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
The committee on the state of the province, reported the following . message to his excellency. The same was considered and accepted by the Congress with one ||'dissentient|| only, and the president was ||cor- dered|| to attest the same.
May it please your Excellency :
The delegates from the several towns in the province of the Massa- chusetts Bay, having convened in general Congress, beg leave to ad- dress your excellency. The distressed and miserable state of the province, occasioned by the intolerable grievances and oppressions to which the people are subjected, and the danger and destruction to which they are exposed, of which your excellency must be sensible, and the want of a general assembly, have rendered it indispensably necessary to collect the wisdom of the province by their delegates in this Congress, to concert some adequate remedy for preventing impend- ing ruin, and providing for the public safety.
It is with the utmost concern we see your hostile preparations, which have spread such alarm throughout this province and the whole conti- nent, as threatens to involve us in all the confusion and horrors of a civil war ; and while we contemplate an event so deeply to be regretted by every good man, it must occasion the surprise and astonishment of all mankind, that such measures are pursued against a people whose love of order, attachment to Britain, and loyalty to their prince, have ever been truly exemplary. Your excellency must be sensible that the sole end of government is the protection and security of the people. Whenever, therefore, that power, which was originally instituted to ef- fect these important and valuable purposes, is employed to harass, dis- tress, or enslave the people, in this case it becomes a curse rather than a blessing.
a||Congress met agreeably to adjournment.||
3 b |dissentient voice.|| c |requested.|
18
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[Oct. 13,
The most painful apprehensions are excited in our minds by the measures now pursuing. The rigorous execution of the Port Bill, with [ªincreased] severity, must eventually reduce the capital and its numer- ous dependencies to a state of poverty and ruin. The acts for altering the charter and the administration of justice in the colony, are mani- festly designed to abridge this people of their rights, and to license murders ; and, if carried into execution, will reduce them to a state of slavery. The number of troops in the capital, increased by daily ac- cessions drawn from the whole continent, together with the formidable and hostile preparations which you are now making on Boston Neck, in our opinion, greatly endanger the lives, liberties and properties, not only of our brethren in the town of Boston, but of this province in gen- eral. Permit us to ask your excellency, whether an inattentive and unconcerned acquiescence [in] such alarming, such menacing mea- sures, would not evidence a state of insanity ; or, whether the delaying to take every possible precaution for the security of the province, would not be the most criminal neglect in a people heretofore rigidly and just- ly tenacious of their | constitutional|| rights ?
Penetrated with the most poignant concern, and ardently solicitous to preserve union and harmony between Great Britain and the Colo- nies, so indispensably necessary to the well being of both, we entreat your excellency to remove that brand of contention, the fortress at the entrance of Boston. We are much concerned that you should have been induced to construct it, and thereby causelessly excite such a spirit of resentment and indignation as now generally prevails.
We assure you, sir, that the good people of this colony never have had the least intention to do any injury to his majesty's troops; but, on the contrary, most earnestly desire that every obstacle to treating them as fellow-subjects may be immediately removed; [ªand we] are con- strained to tell your excellency, that the minds of the people will never be relieved till those hostile works are demolished; and we request you, as you regard his majesty's honor and interest, the dignity and happi- ness of the empire, and the peace and welfare of this province, that you immediately desist from the fortress now constructing at the south entrance into the town of Boston, and restore the pass to its natural state.
Upon a motion,
Ordered, That a fair copy of the foregoing report be taken and pre- sented to his excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., and that a committee be
a [improved.] b [to] ć ||constituted.||
d [but.]
19
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
appointed to wait upon him early to-morrow morning with the same. Accordingly, Col. Lee, Hon. Col. Ward, Col. Orne, Capt. Gardner, Henry Gardner, Esq., Mr. Devens, Mr. Gorham, Capt. Brown, Col. Pomeroy, Hon. Col. Prescot, Col. Thayer, Mr. Williams, Capt. Heath, Capt. Upham, Mr. Barnes, Capt. Doolittle, Mr. Lothrop, Major Thomp- son, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Pickering, and Capt. Thompson, were appointed.
Resolved, That when this Congress shall adjourn over the sabbath, that it be adjourned to the court house in Cambridge.
Then the Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
FRIDAY, October 14, 1774, A. M.
Resolved, That the message to his excellency be printed in the Bos- · ton newspapers.
Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
The committee on the state of the province reported the following resolve, which was read, considered and accepted, and ordered that it be printed in the Boston newspapers, and attested by the secretary.
Resolved, That the several constables and collectors of taxes through- out the province, who have or shall have any moneys in their hands collected on province assessments, be advised not to pay the same, or any part thereof, to the Hon. Harrison Gray, Esq., but that such consta- bles and collectors, as also such constables and collectors as have or shall have any county moneys in their hands, take and observe such orders and directions touching the same, as shall be given them by the sever- al towns and districts by whom they were chosen. And that the sheriffs and deputy sheriffs of the several counties in the province, who have in their hands any province moneys, be also advised not to pay the same to the said Harrison Gray, Esq., but that they retain the same in their hands respectively, until the further advice of a Provincial Con- gress, or order from a constitutional assembly of this province. And that the present assessors of the several towns and districts in the pro- vince, be advised to proceed to make assessinents of the tax granted by the great and general court of the province at their last May session, and that such assessments be duly paid by the persons assessed, to such person or persons as shall be ordered by the said towns and districts respectively. And the Congress strongly recommend the payment of the tax accordingly.
The Congress then adjourned to the court house in Cambridge, there to meet on Monday next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
20
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[Oct. 17,
|CAMBRIDGE, | Monday, October 17, 1774, A. M.
The Congress met according to adjournment, and adjourned to the meeting house in Cambridge.
Upon a motion,
Ordered, That Capt. Gardner, Mr Watson, and Mr. Cheever, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and desire that he would attend the Congress and open the meeting with prayer.
The committee reported, that they had waited on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and delivered the message, and that he would wait on the Congress immediately.
Upon a motion, the question was put, whether application be made to the governor of the college, for leave for the Congress to sit in the new chapel, and passed in the negative.
Resolved, That the seats now chosen by the members in Congress, and those which may be chosen by them in future upon their first coming into the same, be their seats during the session thereof.
Resolved, That the Congress be returned in divisions as agreed on at Concord.
Mr. President informed the Congress that he had in his hand his excellency's answer to our message to him of the thirteenth instant, directed to Col. Lee, lland others which he read and is as followeth :||
To Col. Lee, Hon. Col. Ward, Col. Orne, Capt. Gardner, Henry Gardner, Esq., Mr. Devens, Mr. Gorham, Capt. Brown, Col. Pomeroy, Hon. Col. Prescot, Col. Thayer, Mr. Williams, Capt. Heath, Capt. Upham, Mr. Barnes, Capt. Doolittle, Mr. Lothrop, Major Thompson, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Pickering, and Capt. Thompson, said to be a committee to wait on his excellency with a message.
GENTLEMEN : The previous menaces daily thrown out, and the unu- sual warlike preparations throughout the country, made it an act of duty in me to pursue the measures I have taken in constructing what you call a fortress, which, unless annoyed, will annoy nobody.
It is surely highly exasperating, as well as ungenerous, even to hint that the lives, liberties, or properties of any persons, except avowed enemies, are in danger from Britons; Britain can never harbor the black design of wantonly destroying, or enslaving, any people on earth. And notwithstanding the enmity shewn the king's troops, by withhold- ing from them almost every necessary for their preservation, they have not, as yet, discovered the resentment which might justly be expected to arise from such hostile treatment.
No person can be more solicitous than myself to procure union and
21
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
harmony between Great Britain and lier colonies, and I ardently wish to contribute to the completion of a work so salutary to both countries. But an open and avowed disobedience to all hier authority, is only bid- ding defiance to the mother country, and gives little hopes of bringing a spirited nation to that favorable disposition, which a more decent and dutiful conduct might effect.
Whilst you complain of acts of parliament that make alterations in your charter, and put you in some degree on the same footing with many other provinces, you will not forget that by your assembling, you are yourselves subverting that charter, and now acting in ||direct|| violation of your own constitution.
It is my duty, therefore, however irregular your application is, to warn you of the rock you are upon, and to require you to desist from such illegal and unconstitutional proceedings.
PROVINCE HOUSE, October 17, 1774.
THOMAS GAGE.
Resolved, That his excellency's answer be committed to the commit- tee on the state of the province.
Ordered, That the letters on his honor's table, said to be wrote by the Rev. Mr. Peters,1 be committed to the committee on the state of the province.
Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
(1) Rev. Samuel Peters, born at Hebron, in Connecticut, Docember 12, 1735, of Yale College 1757, took orders and assumed the charge of the churches of his native town and of Hartford in 1762. He resided in Ilebron until 1774. In that year, public indignation was strongly roused by communi- cations to the royalist newspapers attributed to his pen. Ilis house was often visited by commit- tees from the patriotic inhabitants, his papers searched, and his person sometimes treated with severity. The letters mentioned in the text were sent from Boston, where he had taken refuge, to his friends and relatives : they were intercepted, and submitted to the Congress.
On the 28th of September, he writes to his mother : " I should be happy if my friends and rela- tions at Hebron were provided for at these bad times when things aro growing worse. Six regi- ments are coming over from England and sundry men of war. So soon as they come HANGING WORK will go on, and DESTRUCTION will attend first the sea port towns. The lintel sprinkled on the sidepost will preserve the faithful."
In a letter to Dr. Auchmuty, at New York, dated at Boston, October I, 1774, he writes :
" The riots and mobs that have attended me and my house, set on by the Governor of Connecticut, have compelled me to take up my abode here ; and the clergy of Connecticut must fall a sacrifico with the several churches, very soon, to the rage of the puritan mobility, if the old serpent, that dragon, is not bound." .... " Judge Auchmuty will do all that is reasonable for the neighboring charter. Necessity calls for such friendship, as the head is sick and heart faint, and spiritual iniqui- ty rides in high places, with halberts, pistols, and swords. See the proclamation I sent you by my nephew, on their pious sabbath day, the 4th of last month, when the preachers and magistrates left the pulpits, &c., for the gun and drum and set off for Boston, cursing the King and Lord North, General Gage, the bishops and their cursed curatos, and the church of England. And for my telling the church people not to take up arms, &c., it being high treason, &c., the sons of liberty have almost killed ono of my church, tarred and feathered two, abused others, and on the 6th day de- stroyed my windows, and rent my clothes, even my gown, &c., crying out, down with the church,
22
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[Oct. 18,
Afternoon.
Resolved, That in the absence of the president, the secretary have power to adjourn the Congress.
Ordered, That the committee appointed to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton this morning to desire his attendance on the Congress, and [that he would] open the meeting with prayer, again wait on him, and return him the thanks of this Congress for his attendance ||on|| and prayer with them this morning; and desire that he would officiate as their chaplain during their session here.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
TUESDAY, October 18, 1774, A. M.
||ª|| Ordered, That the galleries be now cleared, and that the doors of the house be kept shut, during the debates of the Congress, until the further order thereof.
Resolved, That a doorkeeper be appointed; and that the members of the town of Cambridge appoint some suitable person for that pur- pose. Mr. ||William|| Darling was appointed accordingly.
Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
Moved, That the Congress now determine whether they will, or will not, reply to his excellency's answer.
After some debate thereon, the question was put, whether the Con- gress will make a reply to his excellency's answer, and it passed in the affirmative ..
||Then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, October 19, 1774, A. M.
Ordered, That the doorkeeper see that the galleries be now cleared.
The committee on the state of the province reported a reply to his excellency's message. The same was read and ordered to be recom- mitted.
Ordered, That Capt. Heath, Major Fellows, Col. Thomas, Capt. Gardner, and Col. Pomeroy, be a committee to make as minute an in- quiry into the present state and operations of the army as may be, and report.
a ||Congress met pursuant to adjournment.||
the rags of popery, &c. Their rebellion is obvious, and treason is common, and rohhery is the daily devotion. The Lord deliver us from anarchy. The bounds of New York may directly extend to Connecticut river ; Boston meet them ; New Hampshire, take the province of Maine ; and Rhode Island he swallowed up as Dathan. Pray lose no time, nor fear worse times than attend us."
Mr. Peters went to England in the autumn of 1774 : published a history of Connecticut in 1781, which has not heen considered a work of good authority : returned to America in 1805: went to the falls of St. Anthony claiming a large territory under Carver, in 1817 and 1818: and died in New York, April 19, 1826, aged 90.
23
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
Afternoon.
Ordered, That no members be called out.
The committee on the state of the province reported an answer to his excellency's message ; which, having been read and considered, in || paragraphs, and so passed|| was ordered to lie on the table.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
THURSDAY, October 20, 1774, A. M.
The committee appointed to make inquiry into the state and opera- tions of the army reported. The report, after being read, was ordered to lie on the table.
Afternoon.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider what is neces- sary to be now done for the defence and safety of the province.
Resolved, That the committee consist of thirteen, viz : two in the county of Suffolk, and one in each other county [which has] returned members to this Congress.
Resolved, That each county appoint its own member.
The members of the several counties retired, soon returned, and re- ported that they had made choice of the following gentlemen respec- tively, viz :
Suffolk .- Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq., and Capt. Heath. Middlesex .- Capt. Gardner. Essex .- Col. Orne. Hampshire .- Major Hawley. Plymouth .- Col. Thomas. Barnstable .- Daniel Davis, Esq. Bris- tol .- Col. Walker. York .- Edward Cutt, Esq. Dukes .- Mr. Smith. Worcester .- Hon. Col. Ward. Cumberland .- Major Freeman. Berk- shire .- Major Fellows.
Upon a motion, Ordered, That the gentlemen appointed by the sev- eral counties respectively be a committee for the purpose aforesaid.
The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to the payment and collecting of the outstanding rates and taxes ; the same ||'was|| read, and ordered to be recommitted.
Upon a motion, Ordered, That the answer to his excellency's mes- sage remain on the table.
Then adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning.
FRIDAY, October 21, 1774, A. M.
Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Col. Warren, and Col. Lee, be a com- mittee to report a letter to the selectmen, overseers of the poor, com- mittee of correspondence, and committee of donations, for the town of
a ||paragraph by paragraph.|| b [who have.] c ||being.||
-
24
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[Oct. 21,
Boston, desiring their attendance at this Congress, to consult |ªmeans|| for the preservation of the town of Boston at this alarming crisis.
Upon a motion, the question was put, whether the Congress will now assign a time when they will take into consideration the propriety of recommending a day of public thanksgiving throughout this province, and passed in the affirmative; accordingly three o'clock this after- noon was ||bassigned|| for that purpose.
||Upon a motion the question was put, whether the Congress will now assign a time when they will take into consideration the proprie- ty of recommending a day of fasting and prayer throughout this pro- vince, and it passed in the affirmative. Accordingly, four o'clock this afternoon is assigned for that purpose. ||
Upon a motion, the question was put whether a time be now assign- ed to take into consideration the propriety of appointing an agent or agents, to repair to the government of Canada, in order to consult with the inhabitants thereof, and settle a friendly correspondence and agreement with them, and passed in the affirmative; accordingly, five o'clock this afternoon was appointed for that purpose.
The committee appointed to report a letter to the selectmen of the town of Boston, and others, reported a letter accordingly, which was read and accepted, and the president ||ordered|| to sign the same.
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